With Sundance Deadlines Approaching, Programmers Seek Originality

With Sundance Deadlines Approaching, Programmers Seek Originality

The series of deadlines for the Sundance Film Festival are looming yet again. With the festival gearing up in Park City January 19 – 29, 2012, the early submissions deadline is only days away and various other deadlines continue through late September.

Festival director John Cooper and Director of Programming Trevor Groth offered up some advice last year to aspiring entrants in indieWIRE last year. Said Cooper on what they look for at Sundance: “originality of story and originality of how the story is told (meaning style, technique and form). I have often said, keeping ‘open,’ not narrowing my critical gaze takes constant discipline.” Groth added, “I look for originality of vision and fresh storytelling, but there are no specific criteria for what makes a ‘Sundance film.’ My only definition of a ‘Sundance film’ is one that we play in the festival.”